85 boats compete for victory on Truman
Crappie anglers experience a near perfect but hot day as they competed in the final regular season Crappie Masters event on August 19th. With big money on the line and year end positions to be decided, the bite was spotty and sporadic, challenginge the field of 85 boats. Truman Lake did not disappoint as some of the best teams in the nation rose to the top of the leaderboard.
Sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association, “Ethanol Fueled With Pride”, American Ethanol, and Bass Pro Shops, the Truman Lake National Qualifier was the final leg of the Missouri State Championship, hosted by Missouri Corn and locally by the Clinton Chamber of Commerce.
When the smoke cleared the Power Pole team of Charles and Travis Bunting accomplished something that has eluded them, a major tournament victory on Truman Lake. They topped the elite field with a seven-fish limit that weighed 10.40 pounds.
Team Bunting credited their Mercury Motor, Humminbird Electronics, Minn Kota Trolling Motor, and especially their Power Poles and drift paddles for allowing them to spider rig B’n’M Poles at a snail’s pace. Their ability to push at only .01 miles per hour was the key to triggering the bite in 2-10 feet of water. They were fishing on the bottom using an orange and glow Muddy Water Bait which Travis makes.
For the win Charles and Travis took home $4000.00 along with the Missouri Corn Growers Association and American Ethanol Bonus of $250.00, combined with the Jenko Fishing $100.00 bonus for using Jenko Fishing products, and the $250.00 Power Pole Captain’s Cash bonus, totaling $4600.00.
The Buntings are sponsored by Power Pole, B n M Poles, Humminbird, Minn Kota, Muddy Water Baits, Tite-Lok, Off Shore Tackle, Dub-L-Seat, Balzout, Ranger Boats, Mercury Motors, Engel Coolers, Missouri Gold Fish Hatchery, and Pro’s Choice Marine.
Second place went to the Midsouth Tackle team of Tamie McGrann and Bruce Sprague. They brought in seven fish that weighed 9.67 pounds, good for the $2000.00 runner up prize. The Iowa team used B’n’M Poles, Humminbird Electronics, and a Minn Kota Trolling Motor to one pole minnows in 4-6 feet of water. They caught most of their weigh fish at a four foot depth. McGrann and Sprague are sponsored by Midsouth Tackle, and Big Boys Guide Service.
Third place went to one of the hottest Truman Lake team. Matt Beckman and Jeff Lewis weighed in a seven-fish limit that tipped the scales at 9.39 pounds to earn the $1300.00 third place money. Beckman and Lewis did what they do best, using single poles fishing black and chartreuse jigs. They caught their fish near the bottom in 4-10 feet of water on Jenko Rods. They also mentioned that their Humminbird Electronics, Mercury Motor, and Minn Kota Trolling Motor were a big part of their success. Beckman and Lewis are sponsored by Jenko Fishing, Muddy Water Baits, Alenco Home Improvement, and Midwest Marine.
Fourth place and a check for $1200.00 went to Jenko Fishing team members Chad Nugent and John Wood with a weight of 9.18 pounds.
Rick Fajen and Earnie Cox finished in the fifth-place spot with 9.13 pounds and took home $1100.00.
Top Adult/Youth team honors went to the team of T.J. and Alex Palmer who walked away with a $100.00 Everhart’s Outdoor Store Gift Card.
Top Male/Female honors went to the Grenada, Mississippi team of Vic Finley and Kim Gray who also finished sixth in the tournament and had the big fish of the tournament, a 2.03-pound Truman Lake slab. Finkley and Gray walked away with a $100.00 Grizzly Jig Certificate, $1190.00 for big fish, along with $1000.00 for their 6th place finish which vaulted them into second place in the final Angler Team of the Year standings.
Crappie Masters would like to thank the Missouri Corn Growers Association, The Clinton Chamber of Commerce, and Everhart’s Outdoor Store for their support of the 2017 Crappie Masters season finale.
